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Burnout syndrome in Speech and Language Pathologists during the COVID-19 pandemic (Master thesis)

Πετρίδου, Χρύσα/ Petridou, Chrysa

Occupational burnout is a psychological condition characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a sense of reduced personal accomplishment. It often affects healthcare professionals who face high levels of stress due to the nature of their work. The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to the working environment of speech therapists, with increased demands, changes in therapy delivery methods, and intense psychological pressure. The purpose of this study is to examine both the changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic to the profession of speech therapists and the extent of professional burnout among these professionals, identifying the key factors that contributed to its occurrence during the pandemic period. This work is a literature review of existing research. Twenty-nine articles were selected and analyzed concerning the levels of burnout among speech therapists during the COVID-19 period, along with 25 sources that discuss the broader impacts of the pandemic on the speech therapy community. The articles included were published in international scientific journals from 2015 to July 2024. The results highlighted the high frequency of burnout syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic among speech therapists and emphasized the need for developing intervention and support strategies for professionals in the field, aiming to improve their professional well-being and ensure the quality of services provided. In conclusion, the study highlights the significant impact of the pandemic on the mental health of speech therapists and offers recommendations for the prevention and management of professional burnout in the future.